Zechariah 8 3

Zechariah 8:3 kjv

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

Zechariah 8:3 nkjv

"Thus says the LORD: 'I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.'

Zechariah 8:3 niv

This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."

Zechariah 8:3 esv

Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain.

Zechariah 8:3 nlt

"And now the LORD says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the LORD of Heaven's Armies will be called the Holy Mountain.

Zechariah 8 verses

Zechariah 8 3 Meaning

Zechariah 8:3 declares the Lord's profound commitment to His people, specifically affirming His decision to re-establish His direct presence in Zion (Jerusalem) after a period of divine withdrawal associated with the Babylonian exile. This restoration of divine dwelling will fundamentally transform Jerusalem's identity, rebranding it as "the City of Truth," indicating it will be characterized by divine faithfulness and justice. Furthermore, it reiterates Jerusalem's ultimate designation as "the mountain of the Lord of hosts," confirming its unique role, and then as "the Holy Mountain," signifying its sacred, set-apart status as the global center of God's worship and dominion.

Zechariah 8 3 Context

Zechariah 8 is a pivotal chapter within a series of prophetic messages delivered by Zechariah around 518 BC, the fourth year of King Darius's reign. The overall context for this chapter, specifically Zechariah 7-8, arises from an inquiry by the people of Bethel who questioned whether they should continue their traditional fasts commemorating the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem during the Babylonian exile. The Lord responds through Zechariah by shifting the focus from past sorrow and self-affliction to a glorious future rooted in His unmerited favor and unfailing covenant promises. Verse 3 serves as the foundational declaration of this shift. It promises God's resolute decision to re-establish His active, permanent, and transforming presence in Jerusalem. This divine return is the indispensable prerequisite and assurance for the multitude of blessings, prosperity, justice, and restored relationships between God and His people detailed in the subsequent verses of the chapter. It aims to inject hope and divine certainty into a weary and discouraged post-exilic community facing formidable challenges in rebuilding.

Zechariah 8 3 Word analysis

• "Thus says the Lord" (כה אמר יהוה, koh amar Yahweh): This is a standard prophetic formula that unequivocally authenticates the subsequent message as a direct divine utterance. It underscores the absolute authority, truthfulness, and binding nature of God's declaration. It leaves no room for human speculation regarding the origin or validity of the promise.

• "I have returned" (שבתי, shavti): From the Hebrew root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to return, turn back." The use of the perfect tense here indicates a completed action with enduring effects. This powerful declaration signals a decisive reversal of the perceived divine withdrawal from Jerusalem that preceded the Babylonian exile (cf. Ezek 10-11). It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative in re-engaging with His chosen city and people.

• "to Zion" (ציון, Tziyon): A cherished poetic and spiritual designation for Jerusalem, particularly referring to the Temple Mount or the fortified city. It symbolizes God's chosen earthly dwelling place and the spiritual capital of His covenant people. Its mention highlights the specific focus of God's return.

• "and will dwell" (ושכנתי, veshakanti): Derived from the root שׁכן (shakan), meaning "to settle down, reside, tabernacle." This verb carries strong connotations of permanent, intimate, and secure residence, famously linked to the "Shekinah" (dwelling) glory of God. It signifies a future where God's presence is not transient or conditional, but deeply embedded within the city.

• "in the midst of Jerusalem" (תוך ירוּשָׁלַיִם, tok Yerushalayim): This phrase emphasizes the centrality and profound intimacy of God's future presence. It means God will be within the very heart and fabric of the city, actively engaged with its inhabitants and affairs, rather than being distant or merely observing.

• "and Jerusalem shall be called" (וקרְאָה ירוּשָׁלַיִם, ukor'ah Yerushalayim): This is more than merely assigning a name; it's a prophetic declaration of a transformed reality and identity that God bestows upon the city. The "calling" signifies a fundamental change in Jerusalem's inherent nature, character, and reputation.

• "the City of Truth" (עיר הצדק, Ir ha-Tzedeq): Literally "City of Righteousness/Justice." The Hebrew word צֶדֶק (tzedeq) encompasses righteousness, justice, integrity, faithfulness, and moral uprightness. This designation starkly contrasts with Jerusalem's past, when it was often marked by unfaithfulness and injustice (Isa 1:21). It promises a future Jerusalem where God's moral standards will define its character and governance.

• "and the mountain of the Lord of hosts" (והר יהוה צבאות, veHar Yahweh Tzeva'ot): Refers specifically to the Temple Mount, the geographical and spiritual high point of Jerusalem, which serves as the physical manifestation of God's dwelling place. "Lord of hosts" (יהוה צבאות, Yahweh Tzeva'ot) is a powerful divine title signifying God's supreme authority, sovereignty over all cosmic and earthly powers, and His control over vast angelic armies.

• "the Holy Mountain" (הר הקדש, Har HaKodesh): This describes the Temple Mount as consecrated, set apart for divine purposes, characterized by sacredness, purity, and the active presence of God. It underlines Jerusalem's unique status as the world's spiritual focal point and the locus where God's holiness will be conspicuously manifested and honored.

• "I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem": This foundational statement underscores God's steadfast commitment to His chosen city and people. It signals a dramatic divine initiative, reversing the period of perceived divine absence (during exile) and promising a secure, intimate, and enduring restoration of God's immediate presence within Jerusalem. This direct divine indwelling is the source of all the subsequent blessings prophesied in Zechariah 8.

• "and Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the Holy Mountain": This twin designation highlights a dual transformation for Jerusalem. First, its moral character will be radically aligned with divine justice and faithfulness, marking a profound cleansing from its historical impurities. Second, its spiritual status will be elevated and universally acknowledged as the sacred, designated dwelling place of the Almighty God, symbolizing His supreme rule and the global center of pure worship.

Zechariah 8 3 Bonus section

• This prophecy holds multi-layered fulfillment:
  • Initial Partial Fulfillment: The historical return from exile, the rebuilding of the Temple under Zerubbabel, and a measure of God's renewed favor upon the people in the post-exilic period.
  • Spiritual Fulfillment: In the New Testament era, through Christ's establishment of the New Covenant and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the focus of God's dwelling shifts from a physical temple to His people (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19). Believers become spiritual stones built into a holy temple (1 Pet 2:5), signifying a profound and personal experience of God's "dwelling in the midst." The "truth" of God's character is fully revealed in Jesus Christ, who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6).
  • Eschatological Fulfillment: The ultimate and most complete fulfillment is anticipated in the future Millennial Kingdom and finally in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2, 22:3-5), where God's dwelling with redeemed humanity will be perfect and eternal, righteousness will perfectly characterize all who dwell there, and Jerusalem's role as the truly "Holy Mountain" will be globally realized as the spiritual and governmental center of the Lamb's eternal reign.
• The emphasis on God dwelling in the midst of Jerusalem highlights a desire for intimate communion and not just a distant relationship. It underscores that divine security, blessing, and transformation are a direct result of God's immediate presence among His people.

Zechariah 8 3 Commentary

Zechariah 8:3 is a cornerstone of hope and a profound declaration of divine covenant faithfulness. After the devastating experience of exile, during which God's presence seemingly departed from His Temple and city (as recounted in Ezekiel), this verse announces the Lord's resolute and gracious decision to "return" and "dwell" once more in Jerusalem. This signifies a fundamental shift from divine judgment to abundant blessing. God's return is not just a geographical movement but a re-engagement of His active, protective, and beneficent presence with His people.

The subsequent renaming of Jerusalem as "the City of Truth" (or righteousness) reflects an internal and external transformation. It signifies that the city's character will align with God's own justice, integrity, and faithfulness, reversing its past reputation for unfaithfulness and injustice. This moral renewal is a direct consequence of God's indwelling presence, which cleanses and purifies. Simultaneously, its re-designation as "the Holy Mountain" of the "Lord of hosts" emphasizes its unparalleled sanctity and its future role as the revered, consecrated epicenter of God's universal reign and pure worship for all nations (as further elaborated in Zec 8:20-23 and Isa 2:2-4). This prophecy promises not merely physical rebuilding, but a comprehensive restoration—moral, spiritual, and communal—all stemming from the sovereign will and abiding presence of God.